2020 MEA Awards winners announced

Reflecting on a particularly challenging year, the MEA Awards have acknowledged the exceptional work in the events sector throughout 2020.

Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) has announced the winners of the 2020 MEA State & Territory and National Awards at the 2020 MEA Awards Night, held at Scene Change Studios last night.

Reflecting on a particularly challenging year, the Awards recognise and acknowledge the innovation and exceptional work of organisations and individuals in the events sector throughout 2020. This was the second time that the state and national awards were concurrently presented and the second year the ceremony was broadcast to a virtual audience across Australia.

Congratulating the finalists, MEA chief executive officer Peter McDonald said they were determined to be the best of the best by their peers.

“I’d like to acknowledge the effort made by anyone who contributed a submission for consideration, to congratulate those who became worthy finalists, and to celebrate those deemed to ultimately be category winners,” McDonald said.

“They’ve been determined to be the best of the best by their peers and they’ve established new benchmarks for the industry to emulate – well done.”

Acknowledging that the greatest impact on the business events sector in the past 18 months had been COVID-19, MEA Awards chair of judges Ian Stuart commended the industry’s resilience and adaptability.

“The whole industry has faced cancellations, confusion and concern about when it will all end, but, resourceful as ever, our sector has responded creatively and with optimism,” Stuart said.

“We’ve learned how to replace and to complement the traditional face to face experience by including hybrid and virtual alternatives. We’ve worked out how to keep our audiences’ attention, how to engage with them and the event’s stakeholders. There is great evidence of this in the 2020 MEA National Awards.”

Destination NSW, EventsAIR, ICC Sydney, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Touchpoint and Ungerboeck partnered with MEA to deliver the awards. MEA has also thanked its professional conference organiser Janette Beedell and the TPM team, and MC Nigel Collin, as well as all its sponsors, urging the sector to support those that support it.

MEA has extended a special mention to Kate Smith of WALDRONSMITH Management, who was awarded the 2020 Outstanding Contribution Award for her contribution and dedication to the sector. Kate has been an enormous support and mentor for the industry, including as immediate past Chair of MEA, all while dealing with the same challenges COVID presented her own business.

The winners are…